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Ben Gardner | Defensive Lineman

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Cowboys selected Stanford DE Ben Gardner with the No. 231 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Gardner (6-foot-3 3/4, 277) was somehow not invited to the Combine despite earning All-Pac 12 recognition in each of his final three college seasons, including a first-team selection as a senior. A defensive end at Stanford, Gardner has drawn Jarret Johnson comparisons for his edge-setting ability in the run game. He projects as a run-stopping left end who won't threaten for many sacks. Sat, May 10, 2014 06:06:00 PM

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner visited the 49ers, Chargers and Raiders last week, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Gardner played right end in a 3-4 defense scheme for Vic Fangio (49ers current defensive coordinator)in 2010 and then played under Jason Tarver (current Raiders defensive coordinator) in 2011. Gardner had surgery back in November to fix a torn pectoral muscle which ended his season. The 6-foot-4 Gardner, usually played around 280 pounds as a Cardinal, but is now weighing in at 265 pounds. Gardner believes he can get up to 290 to play end in a 3-4, and can get down to 255 to play OLB in a 3-4 ,or get to a weight where he can play end or three-technique tackle in a 4-3. Gardner is projected to be a possible seventh-round selection or a potential undrafted free agent. Mon, Apr 28, 2014 12:36:00 PM

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner will miss the remainder of the season with a torn left pectoral muscle.

It is a sizable loss for the Cardinal, but the team has seen some nice development from Josh Mauro and Henry Anderson should return in the coming weeks. Also, Luke Kaumatule recently moved from tight end to defensive end. This ends Gardner's Stanford career. Tue, Oct 29, 2013 02:00:00 PM

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner is still dealing with a recurring arm injury.

Gardner notes it has popped up a few times in the last couple of weeks and is "very painful at times." NFL teams will certainly take a look at the injury during the Combine, especially if it persists throughout Gardner's final season. "My arm just kind of shuts down. You just have to wait for it to come back." Tue, Oct 22, 2013 03:27:00 PM

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Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner visited the 49ers, Chargers and Raiders last week, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Gardner played right end in a 3-4 defense scheme for Vic Fangio (49ers current defensive coordinator)in 2010 and then played under Jason Tarver (current Raiders defensive coordinator) in 2011. Gardner had surgery back in November to fix a torn pectoral muscle which ended his season. The 6-foot-4 Gardner, usually played around 280 pounds as a Cardinal, but is now weighing in at 265 pounds. Gardner believes he can get up to 290 to play end in a 3-4, and can get down to 255 to play OLB in a 3-4 ,or get to a weight where he can play end or three-technique tackle in a 4-3. Gardner is projected to be a possible seventh-round selection or a potential undrafted free agent.

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner will miss the remainder of the season with a torn left pectoral muscle.

It is a sizable loss for the Cardinal, but the team has seen some nice development from Josh Mauro and Henry Anderson should return in the coming weeks. Also, Luke Kaumatule recently moved from tight end to defensive end. This ends Gardner's Stanford career.

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner is still dealing with a recurring arm injury.

Gardner notes it has popped up a few times in the last couple of weeks and is "very painful at times." NFL teams will certainly take a look at the injury during the Combine, especially if it persists throughout Gardner's final season. "My arm just kind of shuts down. You just have to wait for it to come back."

Stanford senior DE/OLB Ben Gardner doesn't have structural damage in his arm, according to coach David Shaw.

Shaw added that "it just hurts like the sun of gun." Gardner's malady, suffered against Washington, became high-profile when Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian accused Stanford of faking injuries during the contest to slow his team's up-tempo offense. "Ben Gardner had an arm injury, not to mention dehydration," Shaw said at the time.

Rang does concede Gardner's most likely position is as a five technique in a three man front due to his strength at the point of attack and quickness off the snap. "Gardner's bulk and quickness could earn him similarly high grades from traditional 4-3 teams seeking help at defensive tackle, though he does not possess the acceleration and flexibility preferred as a defensive end in this alignment," Rang concluded. We consider Stanford's rusher on the opposite side, senior Trent Murphy, a superior prospect.